Bill McCartney has a claim to fame not many other septuagenarians can make. Colorado’s legendary ex-football coach shot two strokes over his age Wednesday at the Colorado National Golf Club in Erie during an annual CU tournament.

OK, the 72 was a net score after his unannounced handicap was subtracted.

Clearly, he’s enjoying his return to CU’s inner circle. He has a vested interest in seeing his former players Jon Embree, Eric Bieniemy and Kanavis McGhee succeed as a staff.

McCartney, of course, was not an instant success cleaning up the Chuck Fairbanks era 30 years ago. He urged patience for the new staff.

“What I’m trying to do is tell the public to give it a few years and don’t judge too quickly. These guys are building it the right way.”

The Denver Post’s John Henderson is visiting each Pac-12 town before Colorado joins the conference next season. Follow his travels here.

LOS ANGELES — I always enjoy visiting with Rick Neuheisel. The guy never ages. Every time I sit down with him out here I see the same over-exuberant kid who showed up on Bill McCartney’s last staff as a receivers coach in 1994.

Even after this last 4-8 season he hasn’t seemed to age much. At least, he hasn’t shown it. I’m assuming he sat down in a chair around his table because he wanted to be casual and not because his other coaching chair is so hot.

“Who couldn’t be upbeat?” he told me when I mentioned it. “Look how sunny it is.”

BOULDER — First-year Colorado Jon Embree is keeping his word in reestablishing connections with Buffaloes past. He has invited Bill McCartney, the school’s all-time winningest coach, and Gary Barnett to coach Saturday’s alumni flag football game before the spring gtame starts at 6 p.m.

“Gary’s an integral part of this program,” Embree said. “He always has been. I remember meeting him in ’84 as an assistant coach and just seeing his fire and intensity and coming back when Rick (Neuheisel) left and getting a Big 12 championship. Gary’s a Buff. That’s why I wanted him back. I know people have opinions about him. People have opinions about me, too. We’re a family. He’s a big part of that family. I think he needs to be here.”

Former Colorado linebacker Alfred Williams is one of the most passionate alums the football program has. And it’s pained the college football hall of famer – as it has fans – to watch Colorado stumble to a 19-39 record in five seasons under Dan Hawkins.

He likes the idea of bringing back his old coach, Bill McCartney, but not if it means allowing him to coach for just two seasons as a mentor to an heir apparent.

“I think coach Mac is the most stabilizing force that the University of Colorado can put in as head coach,” Williams said. “I don’t know why a man would want a job like that and walk away after two years. Why does he have to walk away after two years? Why can’t he stick around as long as Joe Paterno has stuck around at Penn State? This is a case where the life lessons and examples that amassed over your life can be transferred to kids that can use those in a diligent way. There’s nothing wrong with coach Mac staying around for another 10 or 15 or 20 years if he wanted to and if he’s effective. I don’t buy the fact that coaches can be outdated. Football has been the same as long as they’ve played it. It’s about blocking, tackling and discipline. That’s what Bill McCartney brings to the table.”

It’s a screwy list, as most lists like this are. They tab Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson the best ever NBA coach (ahead of Red Auerbach). Only one baseball manager is in the top 20 (Casey Stengel at No. 9). And Bill Belichick is No. 20 overall, ahead of Bill Walsh (No. 26). And where’s Dan Gable?

Anyway, Colorado didn’t sniff the list. So who should be nominated to crack the top 50 from Colorado? Bill McCartney? Mike Shanahan? Ceal Barry? Doug Moe? Larry Brown? Dick Katte? (Larry Brown, by the way, is not on the SN list. But Gregg Popovich is. Uh.)

Having moved to Colorado 19 years ago, I arrived relatively late on the scene among those fortunate enough to have known Eddie Crowder. We spoke a dozen or so times, usually when he would show up to watch a Buffaloes practice or if I needed to pick his brain on the phone about some college football issue.

My lasting memory will be of what would become our final conversation. It was during the 2008 signing day “celebration” at CU in February, when everybody was giddy over a class that included tailback Darrell Scott and other blue-chippers. Read more…

I’m not the only one who believes blue-chip tailback Darrell Scott is the most important signee for Colorado football since Darian Hagan. A shifty quarterback, Hagan helped return the Buffaloes to national prominence after he was nabbed out of Los Angeles in 1988 to run Bill McCartney’s option offense. Read more…